Portable pier



Sept. 25, 1934. H. MIDLEBROOK PORTABLE PIER Filed April 17, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Sept.r25, 1934. H. MIDDLEBROOK l PORTABLE PIER llllllllllllllllnlllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I Patented Sept. 2.5:, 1934 1,975,049 PORTABLE PVIER Howard Middlebrook, Middlesex, N. Y. Application April 17, 1933, Serial No. 666,597A

3 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a pier which may be readily transported to any point on a shore and readily adjusted to the level of the high point, where the shore inclines downwardly toward the water; to provide a pier of this nature which will readily retain its position after having once been adjusted and set; and generally to provide a device of 'the kind indicated which is of simple form, susceptible of cheap manufacture and of a construction which will permit it to withstand successfully the hard uses to which such a device or appliance may be put.

With this object in View, the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings but to which embodiment the invention is not to be restricted. Continued use in practice may dictate certain changes or alterations and the right is claimed to make any v which fall within the scope of the annexed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the device set upon a beach or shore of a comparatively great inclination.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the device set up on a shore of comparatively slight inclination.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view.

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views on the planes indicated by the lines 5--5 and 6-6 respectively of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional View on the plane indicated by the line 7 7 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional View, showing a tie rod and its connection with its support.

The invention comprises a platform l0 constructed preferably of longitudinal runners united with transverse spaced strips. At the inner end, the platform is provided with shoes 11 secured to the under side and these being preferably loops of strip metal bolted to the under edges of the runners. The outer end or water end of the platform is supported on a truck consisting of an axle 12 on the extremities of which are mounted the ground wheels 14.

The truck is adjustably connected to the platform by means of a pair of lazy tongs supports 15 connected with the axle 12 just inside of the wheels 14 and having the links of which they are formed crosseconnected by means of tie rods 16. The links of the two lazy tongs are interconnected at their pivot points by crossbars 17.

(Cl, '6l-63) Each section of each lazy tongs support carries at one of its connections between links a tie rail 18 pivotally mounted on the crossbar 17 thereof, this tie rail being formed on the under edge with a series of uniformly spaced notches 19 for engagement over the diametrically opposite crossbar 17. The tie rails thus may be employed to lock diametrioally opposite crossrods 17 and thus rigidly secure the lazy tongs in any adjusted position.

The crossrods 17a, spanning the runners of the platform constitute the pivotal connections between the lazy tongs supports and the platform.

Sleeves 20 are mounted on the crossrods 17 with'which the notches of the tie rails are connected, these sleeves being formed with lips 21 to overlie the upper edges of the tie rails when seated on said crossrods. The sleeves may be moved axially of the lrod 17 but when positioned with their lips in engagement with the tie rails, they are locked against axial movement by pins 22 inserted through holes dametrically through the rods 17.

Depending on which of the notches 19 are engaged with the crossrods will depend the elevation of the lazy tongs support and therefore the elevation of the platform at the truck end and obviously if the truck be seated adjacent the water edge, with the shoes 11 at high points on the shore, the lazy tongs support may be properly adjusted to elevate the truck end of the platform to the level of the shoe carried end.

The truck together with the lazy tongs support have pivotal connections with the platform by reason of being connected with the latter with the crossrod 17a and in order to keep the axle 12 and said crossrod 17@ in the same vertical plane despite all adjustment of the lazy tongs support, there are provided braces 23, these braces being extensible and having terminal pivotal connections with the runners of the platform, as indicated at 24, and pivotal connections with the axle 12. The sections 23a of the braces consist of solid bars slidably mounted in the channelshaped sections 23b and the former sections are held in any position of extension beyond the latter section by means of the bolts 25 by which the sections are secured together.

The orossrod 17b which constitutes the pivotal connection between the lazy tongs sections carries a plurality of brace bars 26 which are of different lengths but which are swingingly mounted on said rod with their lower ends free and formed with notches 27, so that the notches may be seated on the axle and a particular pair 1. A portable pier comprising a platform ground engaging shoes mounted on the platform at one end and on the under side, a wheeled truck disposed under the platform at the other.

end, and vertically adjustable connections between the truck and platform, comprisingpairsof lazy tongs and tie members, the tiey members being pivotally mounted at one corner of a set" of links of the lazy tongs defining a quadrangle and' having adjustable connections with the diagonalhr opposite corners of the quadrangle. 21 A portable pier comprising a platform, ground engaging shoes mounted on the platform at one end and on the under side, a Wheeled truck disposed under the platform at the other end, vertically adjustable connections between the truck and platform comprising pairs of lazy tongs and tie rails, the tie rails being pivotally mounted at one corner of a set of links of the lazy tongs defining a quadrangle and having adjustable connections with the diagonally opposite corners of the quadrangle, and crossbars interconnecting the lazy tongs at the pivotal connections between the links thereof, the tie rails having their under edges formed with series of spaced notches with which the crossbars are selectively engageable.

3. A portable pier comprisingr` a, platform, ground engaging shoes mounted on the platform at one end and on the under side, a wheeled truck disposed under the platform at the other end, vertically adjustable connections between the truck and platform comprising pairs of lazy tongs and tie. rai-1s, the tie rails being pivotally mounted at one corner of a set of links of the lazy tongs defining a quadrangle and having adjustable connectionswith the diagonally opposite corners of the quadrangle, crossbars interconnecting the lazy tongs at the pivotal connections between the links thereof, the tie rails having their under edges formed with series of spaced notches with which the crossbars are selectively engageable, and sleeves mounted on the crossbars engageu able in said notches and having lips overlying the tie rails when the latter have the crossbars seated in any of the notches.

HOWARD MDDLEBROOK. 

